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Jf atber Hummer, L84 1920 SMC

Jlibfl bstat: ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, S.T.D. Censor Librorum Imprimatur: * JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY Archbishop of New York New York, August 7, COPYRIGHT, ST. 1920 MICHAEL S PASSIONIST MONASTERY

% .X5^> H>atnt <afcriel of of iborrotos.

SAINT GABRIEL of Our Lady of Sorrows PASSIONIST A YOUTHFUL HERO OF SANCTITY Jflotoer mountains of Italy are cov with tall pines, great beeches, and spreading chest n uts. Vines and olives are planted in the valleys and on the hills. On the roadsi de and in the gardens roses, camellias, and lilies grow in profusion. So, too, i n the gardens of Para dise there are saints who, by loftiness of in tellect, hav e raised themselves, like the cedars of Lebanon, high above their fellowmen. The se are the Augustines and the Chrysostoms. Others, like the beech and the cheste red * HE 3

SAINT GABRIEL nut, have spread their loving arms to shelter and protect great families of reli gious men and women. Dominies. These are the Benedicts and Saintly penitents and confessors are the vines and olives, made fruitful by the plough of probation and the pruning knife of penance. Virgins are the lilies, and mar tyrs are the red roses and crimson c amellias of God s garden. But there are daisies in the field as well as roses in the hedge; there are passion flowers beside the wall as well as pines on the mountai n. At the foot of the Apennines, under the shadow of the Gran Sasso of Italy, ou t of the beaten track of travelers, and hidden from the eyes of men within the w alls of a monastery grew a modest passion flower, sweet and beau tiful. It was h idden from the world, but not from God. He looked down upon it; His grace bedewe d it; His love shone upon it. And then He stooped gently to lift and trans This plant it to the garden of His saints. the modest passion-flower, that now grows among more brilliant flowers of Paradise, and under the shade of its great trees, is Saint Gabriel, Passionist, known, bef ore he entered religion, as Francis Possenti.

SAINT GABRIEL Cfnlbljoob FRANCIS was the son of Signer Possenti, a lawyer of great talent, who was appoin ted Governor of Umbria, in Romagna, Italy, when barely twenty years old, and who , before re tiring to from public service, sessor of Spoleto. one of the best families of Civitanova, in the Marches. Both father and mother were Francis became Grand As mother belonged distinguished, not only by birth and position, but also for their piety and Chri stian virtues. Francis was the eleventh of thirteen chil dren. He was born at Assisi on the first day of March, 1838. made His father had not yet been Grand Assessor of Spoleto. The child was baptized on the day of his birth, at the same font where, over six hundred y ears be fore, another Francis, the great patriarch of the city and glorious saint, was b aptized. Before he was quite four years old Francis lost his pious and beloved mother. Four of her children had died before her. Sig nor Pos senti, though stricken with grief at the un timely death of his tender a nd affectionate wife, neglected neither the important duties of a governor nor t he responsible obligations of a father. He entrusted the management of 5

SAINT GABRIEL his household, as well as the care of his nine children, to a responsible named Pacifica. and experienced lady of Francis was begun by a tutor, and his pious father. On Pacifica, the whole, h e was a good boy, but in these early years he manifested very few signs of the s anctity for which he was to be so dis The education He was, if any tinguished in after years. thing, the gayest and liveliest of the family. A proneness to anger, levity, and disobedience was his principal fault. When corrected by his father, his unruly temper would reveal it self by his inflamed face, and by the abrupt in which he would leave the com But his anger would cool as quickly as it had he ated, and in a few moments he would return in tears to beg pardon of his manner pany. His tutor, Philip Fabi, a young cleric of piety and learning, had by no means an In his childhood Francis was easy task. father. changeable and fickle. At one time he would be full of fervor at his studies and religious and at others careless and indifferent. His tender sympathy, however, and his lo ving kindness made him a great favorite with his brothers and sisters at home, a nd with his playmates elsewhere. Hardly had he come to duties, 6

SAINT GABRIEL show a marked thoughtfulness and friendship for the poor. Fie would deny himself to give to them. The charitable Pacifica could not always sat isfy the demands he made upon her for those in need. To her objections Francis would the use of reason before he began to answer: "Why! . . . Father wants us to be charitable; for we don ourselves." we ought not to despise the poor, t know what we may one day be gout!) anb &cfjooi Hitt THE education of Francis, begun by his father, Philip Fabi, and Pacifica, at home, was continued by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and finished by the Jesuit F athers at Signer Possenti assumed the office Spoleto. of Grand Assessor there in 1842, about the time of his wife s death. At school Francis quickly made himsel f a favorite with both companions and teachers. He was brave and outspoken. To t he suffer ing he was a warm-hearted sympathizer; to the weak and persecuted, a fearless cham pion; to companions, a stanch friend; a nd to In masters, a willing and talented pupil. those days few prizes were given at school, but Francis was the winner of more than one. 7

SAINT GABRIEL His professor in mental philosophy said that he was one of his aptest scholars. He was se lected as public reader, both for the sodality at the college and for the catechism class held in its church lic on public festivals. At the exhibitions of school and college the generally fell to pub most difficult parts the lot of our hero. Francis finished his public school course at the Jesuit College at the age of ei ghteen years. He entered society before he left college. The fickleness of had manifested itself from time to was revealed by his manner of dressing. For a time he would be so fastidious in dress as to become almost foppish, and then a gain he would take that in his childhood appeared again time in his early manhood. It little mind heed of style or fashion. He indulged rather freely in novel-reading and theatregoing dangerous pastimes for one of his Francis afterwards referred to the years. risks to which he had exposed both min d and morals by indulging these tendencies. After entering the monastery he wrote to a friend: "Dear Philip, if you truly love your soul, shun I know evil compan ions, shun the theatre. how very difficult it is, while by experience entering s uch places in the state of grace, to

SAINT GABRIEL come away without least it either having lost it, or at pleas exposed ure parties, and shun evil books. I assure you that, if I had rema ined in the world, it seems certain to me that I would not have saved my soul. T ell me, could anyone have indulged in I? Well, and what is but bitterness and fear." Nothing Yet neither Francis brothers and sisters, nor to great danger. Shun more amusements than the result? his companions at school, ever saw anything very reprehensible in his conduct. He was regular in his religious duties, never neglected his morning and evening prayers, and assisted daily at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Signer Possenti s talents and honorable po sition gave him a high social standing, and his son could move in the best society of Spoleto. Francis found the doors of all th e leaders of society there open to him. He kept them open, and won a hearty welc ome for himself wher ever he went by his accomplishments and winning ways. He wa s fond of music, and could always contribute a fair share to the evening s enter tainment. He was fond of the Handsome in person and graceful in movement, he was always an acceptable part ne r. He was fond of the theatre, and could dance. always take a leading part in private perform9

SAINT GABRIEL ances. He was successful at college; he was successful in society. Everyone said that he would be successful in whatever he undertook, and that a the world. brilliant career lay before him in The day that closed his college course was a day of triumph for Francis. Handsome ap pearance, graceful address, expressive ges ture, command of language, and good voice had gained for him first place among the young men of the Jesuit College. He was chosen to deliver the opening discourse at the commencement exercises. A brillia nt audi ence of learned and aristocratic men and women were assembled in the lar ge hall. A friend of the young orator for the occasion has left us a minute desc ription of him as he stood on the stage. "His clothes, he says, "were unusually elegant; a matchless and richlyfolded shirt-front adorned with jewels; bright buttons on his cuffs; a silk cravat around his * neck; his hair studiously parted. Add to these his white kid gloves and patent-leather shoes, and we have a pen picture of young Francis Possenti as he stood, smiling and se rene, facing his many friends and the distin guished audience about to be pleased specta tors of his triumph." The audie nce was de10

SAINT GABRIEL They loudly ap plauded and cheered when he was presented with a gold medal for e xcellence in all his studies. lighted with his address. Those who gazed upon and cheered the handsome youth, little all flushed with suspected that, in bowing them success, his ac knowledgments, he was taking leave of them and worldly society. Gifted with much talent, assured of worldly success, and favored by society, he was going to ren ounce the bril liant career that lay before him in the world to become a priest. None of the audience, ex cept his father, suspected that he was about to turn his back on the pomps and pleasures of the world to give himself entirely to the service of God knew that he in a monastery. None of them was going to cast off all that finery of dress to clothe himself in the poor habit of a Passionist. None of tho se who so joyfully cheered and applauded knew that the day of his triumph was the eve of h is depart ure from them. When Francis parted with and said good-bye to them, they thought that he was only going for a holiday. Th e next day he left home and his friends that night, set out for the Passionist Novitiate at valle, in the Morro-

province of Macerata. 11

SAINT GABRIEL location THE religious vocation of Francis, not known to his friends until iafter his dep arture, had been secretly hidden in his breast for some years. Though so gay in manner, and seem ingly so thoughtless, he had been thinking seriously of the future. A secret impulse urged him to use his talents energy in the service of Church. "How many times," "do and spend his God and of His writes his remember seeing him friend, Bonaccia, his thanksgiving after Communion, during h is head bowed in deepest reverence, his I hands clasped, his eyes moist with silent tears, as if he were pondering over so me great thought, and maturing with God some great Twice Francis had been seriou sly design?" On both ill, and seemed in danger of death. of these occasions he had promised God in his heart that, if he were spared, he would enter a Reli gious Order. The promises were evi dently accepted, for each time they were made the ailing youth quickly recovered. After the second of these illnesses and ext raordinary cures, he went to the Father Provincial of the Jesuits, and asked to be received into the So12

SAINT GABRIEL His request was granted, but he dilly He did not refuse to fulfil his promise to God, but again and again deferred its fulfillment. Whilst thus ciety. dallied with his vocation. hesitating to answer his vocation, and delay ing to make use of the permission g iven him by the Father Provincial of the Jesuits, Fran began to think of becoming a Passionist. In his doubt and difficulty he asked th e advice of Father Peter Tedeschini, S.J. This holy told him to wait and pray fo r further priest cis guidance. How He had wonderfully patient God is with us! twice cured Francis of his sickness, In the year 1856 the and now He gave the reluctant youth a more decisive call to duty. terrible ravages of cholera had been suddenly stopped at Spoleto through the int ercession of the Blessed Virgin. this In public gratitude for miraculous favor, her statue was carried in procession through the streets of th e city. Francis watched the procession rather As the through curiosity than devo tion. statue was borne past, he raised his eyes, and, through the eyes of the statue, Mary cast upon him a glance that pierced his inm ost heart as with a dart of fire. At the same time, deep within his soul, he hea rd the words: 13

SAINT GABRIEL "Why! . . . What art thou doing in the religious!" thou art not made for the world world? Hasten, ! become a The procession passed remained kneeling in prayer at the roadside. No one but he had seen or heard any thing extraordinary. He cried out with gratitude for the signal favor bestowed u pon him. He thanked the Blessed Virgin again and again for her loving warning. F rom that moment he was a changed boy. He no on, but Francis longer thought of anything but of fulfilling his vocation. He determined to beco me a Passionist. That resolution was made less than a month before the brilliant closing of his college career. Within that time he re vealed his determination, first to hi s spiritual director, and then to his father. He answered all life, objections against his choosing so hard a and completed arrangements with the Father Provincial of the Passionists for his entrance into the novitiate. The ne ws of his son s determination was a double grief to Signer Possenti. It grieved him to lose so beloved and talented a son, and it grieved him that he should cho ose so rigor ous a life. He was an aged man now, and few of his family remained at home. His eldest son, Aloysius, had joined the Domin14

SAINT GABRIEL Another son, Henry, had begun his studies for the priesthood. He had lost two da ughters since the death of his wife one leans. had died, the other had married and gone to a distant province. And now his beloved Francis the son that gave promise of bring him so much honor the son who might have been the light and comfort of his old a ge was going to leave him. The aged father and his relations tried to persuade F rancis to change his mind. They told him that the life of a Passionist would be too severe for him; ing that the plain food, coarse habit, and strict discipline would not suit one of s uch delicate and refinement as he was. They re minded him of the honor that the world of fere d to one of his position and ability. They asked him, if he would not alter his inten tion of becoming a priest, to choose an easier rule than that of the Passi onists, or to become a secular priest and stay nearer home. But Francis was firm . No worldly consideration could move him, no family tie could hold him. The des ire to serve God and sanctify himself tastes overruled every other desire. He dearly loved his father and his relations, but he loved God above all. As soon as Signer Possenti was convinced that his son was called by G od, he 15

SAINT GABRIEL at once ceased to oppose his wish. Father and son embraced each other and wept at parting. The man of years and honor bowe d his head it seemed as if the sunshine were passing out of his life there was a void in his heart, tears fell from his eyes; but he made no complaint. There w as no rebellion; his pious prayer was "Thy will, O God, not mine, r : be done." Religious TLilt FRANCIS entered the Passionist Novitiate at Morrovalle in September, 1856. After liv ing there in his secular dress for a short time, and making a retreat for ten days, he was clothed with the religious habit, and received the name of Gabriel, with the title of the Seven Dolors. call We shall, therefore, no longer him Francis, but Gabriel. This change of name is made in signification of author ity over the person whose name is changed, and of the putting off of the old man and the put ting on of the new, according to t he advices of St. Paul. As the soul of a traveler, dusty, wearied, and thirsty after crossing the hot an d sandy 16

SAINT GABRIEL plains, is delighted with the greenness and refreshed by the shade of an oasis, so the soul of Gabrie l was delighted and refreshed with the peace and solitude of the monastery. No soldier was ever more truly proud of his uni form than Gabriel was of the habit that dis tinguished fied. him as a soldier of Christ Cruci Here is the letter that he wrote to his father on the day that he was first clot hed as a Passionist: "MORROVALLE, "My September 21, 1856. last. DEAR FATHER: The day has come at The Almighty had been calling me for a long time, whilst I ungratefully turned a deaf ear to His voice by enjoying th e world and displeasing Him; but His infinite mercy sweetly disposed all things, and tod ay, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, our Mother and Protectress, I was clothed in the holy habit, taking the name of Confrater Gabriel, of the Seven Dolors. to the present, my dear father, I have experienced anything but pleasure, whethe r as regards this religious congrega tion or my vocation to it. Oh! rest assured Up not that whosoever fully to is called to the religious state receives a grace that he will never be able comprehend. 17

SAINT GABRIEL excellent Father-Master and Vice-Mas send their kind regards together with my ow n. My greetings to the Jesuits and OratorMy ter ians, as well as to all inquiring friends. Begging your blessing, dearest father, I remain, your affectionate son, CONFRATER GABRIEL, Of the Dolors of Mary, Passionist." Twelve months must be spent by the Pas can take the vows that make him a religio us of the Congregation. These twelve months are a time of trial and probation. T he novice sionist novice in the novitiate before he living the life of a Passionist is given every opportunity to try it well before solemnly promising to continue it for the rest of his days. His superiors put his vocatio n to the test, and watch carefully to see if he is worthy to be admitted a membe r of the Congregation. Gabriel loved the religious life from the moment he entered upon it. He fulfille d the rules of the Congregation with the greatest fervor and exactness, and was profes sed on the twenty-second of September, 1857. Be sides the chastity usual religious vows of poverty, and obedience, a Passionist makes 18

SAINT GABRIEL a particular vow to spread devotion to the passion of our Lord; hence, he is cal led a Passionist. The Sunday to Gabriel of wrote his father after his profession as follows: "Through Our Lady the grace of God and the protection of Sorrows, and to my unspeak able joy, my desires have been fulfilled, and I have made my holy profession. Su ch a grace can never be valued adequately, and therefore, as I have been favored by Almighty God with such a privilege, I feel bound by an ever-in I creasing obligation to correspond thereto. leave it, therefore, to your own ju dgment whether or no I stand in need of the prayers of yourself and others. When the ye ar s novitiate is ended those * young men who are destined for the priest hood are formed into classes, and plac ed under the charge of a spiritual director and a professor. These students seld om remain in the retreat where the novitiate is, but are distributed province. classics, among the other Some time is spent retreats of the in the study of two years in philosophy, four years in theology, and then a course of sacred elo quence is gone through, before the young priests begin the public life of their sacred ministry. 19

SAINT GABRIEL After his profession Confrater Gabriel re five months in the retreat at Morromained valle. Then, under the spiritual direction of Father Norbert, who had been his Vice-Mas ter in the novitiate, he went with other students to Pieventorina in the Marches . Here he re mained about eighteen months, before Father Norbert took his class to the retreat^ at Isola, in the province of Abruzzo, where Gabriel, after a residence of about three year s, died. There is nothing sensational to tell about the religious life of Gabriel. Passio nist nov ices and students go through the same routine day after day, and week a fter week. After a rest of between four and five hours, they rise from bed a little after midnight to chant mat and lauds in the chapel, and spend some time in prayer. An hour and a half is spent in this way, and then the reli gious go to bed again for two or three hours. Between five and six o clock they rise the second time, and go again to chapel. An hour and a half is spent there in chanting prime and tierce, in The hearing Mass, and in mental prayer. breakfa st consists of a cup of coffee and a Three hours are given to study, little brea d. of an hour to spiritual reading, and quarter half an hour to solitary walk, o r work in the ins 20

SAINT GABRIEL garden. Towards noon all the religious as semble for the third time in choir to chant sext and none. After dinner three-qu arters of an hour are spent in recreation before the religious retire to their c ells for an hour. At the sound of the bell they go the fourth time to chapel to chant vespers. The afternoon is spent, like the morning, in study, work, and solitary walk. In the evening all g o to chapel for the fifth time to chant compline, which ends the divine office of the day. A n hour is then passed in mental prayer, a light supper is taken, and, after anot her recreation of three-quarters of an hour, the religious say the Rosary and night prayers together before going to bed. The life of a Passion ist at home a continual round of prayer and study, with intervals for manual work, solitary walk, and recreation. Except during the time of recreation, silence must be kept through out the whole day. Students are not allowed to speak to anyone, even of their own num ber, without their director s permission. They is short fast and abstain from meat three times a week, and during the whole of Lent and Ad vent. Their bed and pillow are of straw. Twice a week they are allowed to go beyond the enclosure of the retreat for a walk, under 21

SAINT GABRIEL the guidance of their director. In Italy, once a religious lays aside the dress of a secular, he never puts it on again, but always wears the religious garb wherever he goes. To one of the world that seems a most mo notonous is life. To one called to it by God it the happiest life on earth. This was the life that Gabriel led for nearly six ye ars. There was only one miraculous occurrence life, the warning given him by the Bles sed Virgin through her image at Spoleto. There was nothing miraculous in his in his secular religious life. It was remarkable, not for great or extraordinary deeds, but for a com plete change of life, a wonderful co rrespond ence with God s grace, and a marvelous ex actness in every detail of his duties. In a letter to his brother, describing his daily duties, he says: "With jo y, swiftness, and goodwill each day comes to an end. Oh, how pleasant it is to lay one s self down to rest with the consciousness of having s erved God (however unworthily) during the whole day!" A friend called one d ay on Michelangelo, who was finishing a statue. Some time after wards he called again, and found the great sculptor still at the same work. His friend, looking at the statue, exclaimed: "You have 22

SAINT GABRIEL no "By have re touched this part, and polished that; I have softened this f eature, and brought out this muscle; I have given more expression to this " Well, lip, and more energy to this limb." been idle since I saw you last." means," replied the sculptor; "I well," said the friend, "It "but all these things are trifles." "but may be so," replied Michel angelo, fection, remember that trifles make per

and that perfection is no trifle." Had the worldly-wise watched Gabriel at his work they would have regarded it with even less favor than Michelangelo s friend re garded his. Had they seen Gabriel spend ing an hour morning and evening on his knees in silent prayer; had they seen him serving Mass with the simplicity of a child and the devotion of a saint; had they seen him from time to time making short visits to the Blessed Sacrament; had they seen him day after day doing the same things, studying at his desk, walking alone in the garden, never speaking or writing to anyone without his director s permission, serving at the table in the refec tory, washing the dishes in the ki tchen, sweep ing the corridor, scrubbing his cell, weeding the garden, and carrying his flora l offerings to the statue of his beloved Virgin-Mother 23

SAINT GABRIEL had the worldly-wise seen this constantly and daily repeated, they would have sa id that it was all useless waste of time and energy, that Gabriel was burying hi s talents, and spoiling his life. But Gabriel was at a great work, the masterpie ce of his life. He was at the great the work of est work that is given man to do Trifles make perfection, and per perfection. fection is no trifle. By the menia l work he did Gabriel was chipping off the rough edges of pride, and bringing ou t the lovely form of humility; by his simple life and coarse habit he was rubbin g aw ay the superfluities of van ity, and revealing the grace of modesty; by his poverty, chastity, and obedience he was toning down the rough defects of the ma n of nature, and producing a spiritual man of r grace to the likeness of his Divine Model, by his frequent prayer and meditation , raising his mind from earth to heaven, he was bringing down and infusing a sup er Christ; natural life it making into the work of his hands, and breathe and throb with the warmth of divine love. The religious life of Gabriel was made up of triiles, and Gabriel was aware that they were trifles. But he was striving for perfec tion, and knew that trifles 24 make perfection.

SAINT GABRIEL His aim was perfection; his model was Christ Crucified; his patroness was the Mo ther of Sorrows; his guide was St. Paul of the Cross; his motive was the love of God. He gained his end, not by vainly longing to do great things that might never be given him to do, not by waiting for opportunities tha t might never occur, but by doing with all his might whatsoever his hand found to do. He wished to prolong his fasts, but his directo r told him to be satisfied with those imposed by the rules of the Congregation. He desired to practise great austerities, but was forbidden to at tempt them. The rules of the Congregation were to him the expression of God s wi ll, and he fulfilled them to the letter as well as in the spirit. The sound of t he observance bell was to him the voice of God calling him to his duty, and he hastened immediately to answer it. In the person of his superior he saw the person of Christ, and he humbly complied with his slightest wish. He ennobled th e sim plest act was end. by the purity of his intention. What trifling he made great by using it for an His constant occupation was the culti vation of the interior life by always subd uing the defects of nature, by always correspond ing with God s grace, by always remembering 25

SAINT GABRIEL God with s presence, and by always communing the Him in prayer. Charity s perfection, and Gabriel charity. soul bond of was aflame with is No one can judge us panions. One of Gabriel to notice in fection." so well as our s com panions in religion said: most intimate com was never able "I him any willful defect or imper Norbert, his vice-master and spiritual director said: "Such was his hunger and thirst for all virtues, such the as siduity with which he labored for their ac quisition, that he never lost an oppo rtunity of practising them." It was this longing de sire for virtue, this continual Father reaching up to God that consumed

Gabriel. jflatoer of tfje "UNLESS the grain of wheat falling unto the ground die, itself remaineth al one. But In if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." the garden within the monastery walls at Isola stands a large crucifix. A seed fell to the ground before it. A plant sprang up, and twined itself around the cross unti l it reached the feet of the figure nailed upon it. It then 26

SAINT GABRIEL bent outward, as if to behold what was above. A bud formed, swelled, burst into bloom, and gazed in loving awe upon the figure of Christ Lo! it was a true flowe r of the Crucified. Passion! Its heart was pierced and stamped Him Who hung upon the The seed that fell at the foot of the The plant crucifix w as Francis Possenti. that grew therefrom and flowered was Gabriel with the signs of cross. Seven Dolors, Passionist. Gabriel was clothed he received the habit of a Passion ist. When he was professed, of the When besides making the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, he vowed to spread devotion to the Passion of Christ, and the sign of the Passion was attached to his breas t. But the mere putting on of a black habit does not make a true Passionist; the wearing of a sign fol upon the breast does not make a true lower of Christ Crucified. Gabriel faithfully He made the interior cor fulfilled his vows. respond to the exterior. The heart-shaped sign of the Passion without was no fal se badge of the heart within. The sufferings and death of Christ were subjects o f daily meditation with Gabriel. The crucifix was always before his eyes, someti mes on the table before him at study, sometimes beside his book, often in 27

SAINT GABRIEL his affectionate hands, and again and again It strengthened pressed to his lovin g lips. comforted him in his inspired him in his medita tions; it urged him to deeds of mortification and penance; it moved him to sorrow; it in flamed him with love. & quot;May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever in our hearts!" is th e meaning of the sign and motto upon a Passionist s breast. The Passion of Chris t in his trials; it it him tribulations; was It was truly in the heart of Gabriel. in his words; it was seen in his actions; heard it was echoed in his life. He left the world, because Christ was not of the world. He was poor, because Christ was poor. He was chaste, because Christ was chaste. He was obedient, because Christ was obedient. He suffered, be cause Christ suffered. Words fly, b ut example remains. Gabriel never preached from pulpit or platform. He never gav e a mission to the people; yet very few have fulfilled their vow so \vell as he; very few have done so much to spread devo tion to the Passion of Christ as he h as done by He is preaching a the example of his life. sermon on the Passion that will never cease, a sermon that earth. 28 is heard at the ends of the

SAINT GABRIEL Cfjtfo of IT the world, and greatest saints was through Mary that Christ came into it is through Mary that the have left the world and Mary, through her image at had warned Gabriel to leave the Spoleto, world and fu lfil his vocation. One of Mary s reached Christ. titles the title of the Seven Dolors was added to the s name of Gabriel. of love for Gabriel soul was a furnace Christ Crucified. without loving gaze He could not love the Son the Mother. He could not Son without behold upon the crucified ing the Mother at the foot of the cross. could not meditate upon the sufferings He of

Christ without thinking of the sorrows of No one loved Christ as Mary, His Mary. Mother, loved Him. Gabriel tried to reach the heart of Jesus through the heart o f Mary. No one fathomed the depth of Christ s sufferings Gabriel as did his grie f-stricken Mother. tried to search those depths through her sym pathetic eyes. The Rule of all St. Paul of the Cross advises "entertain Passionists to a pious and ar dent devotion towards the Immaculate Virgin 29

SAINT GABRIEL let them strive to imitate her sublime virtues and merit her seasonable pro tect ion." So well did Gabriel attend to this advice that Cardinal Parocchi, in his suppli Mother of God; catory letter to Pope Leo XIII. says: "Mary was the very soul of Gabriel s life, the source and model of the sanctity to which he at tained; so that it may be truly said that in his devotion to the great Mother of God he has scarcely been equalled by any even of the greatest saints." This wonderful love and devotion to his heavenly Queen and Mother manifested the m He selves by a thousand different acts. but was refused, permission to burn be gged, the name of into his flesh. Mary upon his breast, or cut it It was his constant pleasure to attend to the garden, that flowers might be cultivated to adorn her statue. H e called to her in times of danger and temptation; he sang to her in times of jo y and victory. Her He was all inter est and eagerness when she was the subject of conversation. She was often the subject of name was ever on his lips. his long and fervent meditations. Sometimes, forgetting the presence of his companions, he would murmur in an undertone: &quo t;Maria mia!" and his face would so light up with

joy.

SAINT GABRIEL He did not rest until, by repeated requests, he obtained permission from his dir ector to bind himself by vow to be Mary s champion Her image, as well as that of her for life. Divine Son, was on the picture that he kissed in his dying moments, and pressed to his heart. Mary and Jesus, Jesus and Mary, were in his heart, and on left his lips, until his soul took flight and the body. GABRIEL, although never very robust, en joyed very good health for the first fou r years of his religious life. He then began to mani As soon as fest symptoms of consumption. his director noticed these signs of weakness, he forbade his rising for the midn ight office and prayer, and dispensed him from the fasts of rule and all its penitential sev erities. These dispensations were displeasing to Ga briel, and nothing but the v irtue of obedience would have induced him to accept them. Notwithstanding these precautions, and the attendance of a doctor, the deadly disease made rapid progress, and reduced its victim 31

SAINT GABRIEL to a pitiable state of weakness. he suffered on a bed of pain, and to violent For months was subject all patiently, hemorrhages. He bore and without murmur or complaint. So cheer ful was he that his fellow-students th ought it a privilege to be allowed to watch at his bed side. When told that his end was near, he first manifested a little surprise, and then gladly resigned himself to the will of God. In his dying moments, after receivin g absolution from his Father Director, he asked for an old picture of his, much worn by frequ ent use. It was a picture of the Crucifixion, with the Blessed Virgin standing at the foot of the cross. He devoutly kissed it, placed it on his breast, folded his hands across it, and began to speak in prayer. With indescribable love he began to say aloud: "Oh, my Mother make haste, make haste!" Commending his soul to God, he repeated the familiar ejaculation: "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I offer yo u my heart and soul. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mar y, Joseph, may I breathe His di forth my soul with you in peace." and many of the were watching and praying in his community rector, his fellow-students, cell So devoutly did he raise his eyes to heaven, so sweetly did he pronounce beside him. 32

SAINT GABRIEL the holy names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, so tenderly did he call upon Mary to make haste, so lovingly did he supplicate his Divine Sav ior, that all were fill ed with awe and moved Suddenly he turned his eyes to the and sion. His eyes beamed with trans ports heart; and then, with a sweet smile in of his body, he ceased to breathe. The e passion left to tears. flower. Gabriel was not yet a priest when he died, in the twenty-fourth year of his age, and in the sixth year of his religious life. His death took place on the twenty-seventh of February, 1862, and he was buried in our ret reat of Isola di Gran Sasso, Italy. "Being made per fect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time; for his soul pleased God" (Wis. iv. 13). ?3 above him. He gazed upon some heavenly vi of joy, long, loving sighs came from his his lips, and without the least movement Reaper had stooped and gathered the littl

SAINT GABRIEL of H>anctitp NOTHING has been said in the life of Gabriel of marvelous powers, of great deeds, or of astounding miracles; yet he was a her o of ism have four proofs of his hero sanctity. his life proves it; his fellow-men pro cl aim it; God testifies to it, and the Church defines it. We Gabriel s life tory the greatest of victories; therefore, Gabriel is a great hero, for he conqu ered self. There makes a man proves him to be a hero. Vic a hero, but self-conquest is was not a nature, that by the grace of not an evil inclination in his God he did not subdue and conquer. By nature he w as im fault, petuous and strongly inclined to disobedience; he conquered self by humble submi ssion and blind obedience to superiors. By nature he was inclined to levity; he conquered self by a wonderful recollection at work, and by great constancy and f ervor in prayer and medita tion. By nature he was inclined to vanity, and was fo nd of dress; he conquered self by assuming the poor and humble habit 34 of a Pas-

SAINT GABRIEL sionist. By nature he was much inclined to seek social pleasures, and the world promised him a brilliant career; he conquered self by burying himself in a monas tery. The con stant self-denial and sacrifice required to be present punctually at every act of the mon astic observance, to fulfill exactly every point of rule, and to comply obedient ly with every wish of superiors, are, in the opinion of many, equal to martyrdom. Gabriel was punctual to the minute, and exact in every point, even the least. He was a hero of faith, for in all he saw the will of God, and united him things He was a hero self to it by blind obedience. of hope, for he looked to no one b ut to God for his reward, and never ceased to strive for it. He was a hero of ch arity, for he re nounced self, he renounced home, he re nounced the world, and did of God. all for the love Gabriel s life proves his heroism, and his fellow-men proclaim it. Nothing is mo re miraculous about Gabriel than the rise and propagation of devotion to him aft er his He was almost a stranger to the peo death. of the Province where he died. He had ple been in their midst only three years. Their only opportunity to see and hear him was 35

SAINT GABRIEL when he served Mass in the church, or sang He never left the monastery ex in the company of his fellow-students, cept and then he would not speak to strangers in the choir. ways without permission from his director, who al The least fre accompanied him. quen ted roads and the most solitary places are chosen for these walks beyond the mon astery walls. Gabriel did not work a miracle, nor he did nothing extraordinary before his death. The people had seen little of Gabriel, but that little had deeply impress ed them with a firm belief in his sanctity. The year after his death our religio us were driven by in iquitous laws from the monastery where he was buried. For years the monastery was used by the Italian Government as barracks for soldiers, for years it was abandoned a caretaker. Yet, after when a community of our reli thirty years, and and left without gious returned, and once more took posses sion of the place, they found the peop le still frequenting the old church, and praying at the tomb of Gabriel, whom they called "The Holy Religious." They gathered together and opposed an attempt to remove hi s body. They held meetings, and angrily asked why he was not proclaimed a saint. What gave 36

SAINT GABRIEL these people so firm a belief in the sanctity of Gabriel? Who inspired them to v isit his and to pray to him as to a saint? grave It has been my happy lot to dwell for a few days in the retreat beside the tomb of Gabriel, and I shall never forget what I saw and heard Gabriel had lived and died there; there. Gabriel had stood there; Gabriel had gazed upon these scenes as I gazed upon the m. I seemed to feel his presence; I seemed to hear his voice. a low The church and monastery stand alone on hill, and face an amphitheatre of the hi ghest peaks in the Apennines. About two miles off stands the town of Isola, call ed Isola, or Island, because it is almost surrounded by two little rivers that meet there. At the head of the valley, five or six miles away, stands the Gran Sasso of Italy. This is a mighty peak of bare rock, with a face almost as per pendicular as a wall. It tapers as it rises, and, reaching thousands of feet int o the heavens, towers over every other peak in the Apennines. At each side of th is huge and lofty rock the other mountains fall away in a semicircle until they become undulating hills. One day in the I autumn of 1903 it

was a Saturday stood at the 17 window of

SAINT GABRIEL a cell in the monastery, and gazed upon this magnificent panorama. It was a beauti ful day. Now and then a few clouds floated over the clear heavens from the sea, and gathered to form a fleecy canopy over the hi gh head of the Gran Sasso. Round the neck and over the shoulders of this mountain giant, where he unites with his fellow-peaks, lay a glisten ing white collar of purest snow. Dark, olivecolored pines grouped in forests in the lower ridges of the mountains sides. and climbed up their Their sombreness was relieved by the firs bright green that grew in their midst. Lower down the great beech forests were lighted up with brilliant autumn tints; the sunbeams slanting on them down the moun tain sides gave them the appearance of a for Between the sunshine and est on fire. shadow of the hills and on their tops the herbage gleamed with a sheen like that of The grandeur and beauty of silver and gold. the scene enraptured me; green fields and waving forests, dark valley and glimmering hills, beetling cliffs, snow-capped mountain, and glorious Italian sk y held me entranced. I could not tear myself away from them. My eyes feasted wit h raptured delight upon the lovely grandeur of Nature; I could not give 38

SAINT GABRIEL them their fill. There was but one thing a voice to praise the Creator a voice to cry out, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord G od of Hosts, the earth is full of Thy glory!" And lo! even as I gazed and d rank in the wonderful beauties of the Creator s works, I heard the music of voic es growing louder and wanting and drawing nearer and nearer. They sang the praises of God, and chanted louder, His litanies. There are no railways and few coaches run ning over those hills and mountains. T rav elers mostly go on foot there. Along the roads, and by the paths leading to the mon astery and church, little bands of people, sometimes five or ten, someti mes twenty or There thirty together, were approaching. were grandfathers and gra ndmothers with a staff to help them, and with grandchildren, that ran before the m on the way, and then There were sat down to await their coming. and girls; the re were young men and boys their wives, all dressed in quaint and pic turesque I talian costumes. Some had a mule or an ass laden for the journey; others car rie d their provisions and extra clothing in a bundle on the head. Almost everything is carried that way. The baby peeps out 39 of a

SAINT GABRIEL basket carried on the mother s head. There, poised in the air, it is swayed to s leep, or gazes wonderingly at the heavens above, as the mother walks along, knit ting as she goes. Who to the were these people? What brought them monastery? They were Gabriel s fel low-coun trymen; they were pilgrims to his tomb. Some of them came from the valley, other s had come from beyond the mountains. Some of them had been a day, others two da ys on the way. They sang hymns and chanted litanies as they came. As soon as they en tered the monastery grounds they took off their hats, and walked bareheaded to t he front of the church. There each band of pil grims grouped together, and finished the lit any or hymn they were singing befor e en tering the church to kneel at Gabriel s grave and kiss his tombstone. Some came merely intercession for to out of devotion to him; some came to beg his them with God; some came make first do penance for their sins. These would their way on their knees from Gabriel s resting place, near the door of the church, to his tomb at the other end near th e altar, or would remain for hours in prayer beside the body of their "Holy Religious.& quot; The sim plicity and lively faith of these devout pil40

SAINT GABRIEL grims brought tears to my eyes, and stirred faith as it had seldom been stirred before. One could feel, and seemed almost able to my touch, the supernatural in their midst. All that Saturday I stood at the window gazing at the scene before me. All day long the pil grims continued to come. They came until the church, the sanctuary, and the sacristy were packed; until the large shelter built be side the church was overflowing, and until hundreds were camped in the fields outside. They stopped there all night. Ten of our Fathers heard confessi ons from early morn ing till I late in the evening. Several times that of feet hymns beneath my win more pilgrims were streaming in. The dow; priests arose at two o clock, and began again to hear confessions and celebrate Mass. Masses were celebrated until noon on Sunday, and confessions were heard until late in the a fternoon. After going to confession, hear ing Mass, and receiving Holy Communion , the pious pilgrims again gathered into bands, and started night and the singing of was awakened by the tramp on their way homewards, joyfully singing and chanting as they went. That is a common sight at the 41 tomb of Saint Gabriel during the months of summer and autumn.

SAINT GABRIEL That is a people s testimony to the heroism of his sanctity. Above the proofs that Gabriel gave of his heroism, and above the declaration of the people, is the testimony of God. He sets His seal upon our hero s sanctity, and stamps it as genuinely heroic by working miracles through his intercession. The following ac counts of miracles are taken from a l ife of Gabriel by Father Nicholas Ward, C.P.: "Mary Mazzarella, aged twenty , lived with her parents in the town of Isola. For nearly three years she had be en suffering with seri ous complications affecting her lungs, stom ach, and spin e, with constant daily fever and headache. At first there seemed to be ques tion only of gastralgia, or neuralgia of the stomach, but clear symptoms soon ma de it evident that acute tubercular phthisis, or con sumption, had set in. Three ensued. Gradually losing all physician allowed her t o take might fancy; but her daily hemorrhages appetite, the anything she food hardly amounted to two or three spoonfuls of the pottage prepa red for the family. Her condi In January, tion steadily became worse. 1892, she experienced great pains all through her body, and six ulcerous wounds broke out. 42

SAINT GABRIEL These wounds continued to enlarge, and pre vented her from, resting either by da y or From five of the wounds putrid mat night. was discharged. She became so weak that she could not stand on her feet, and was ter unable to bear the light. The summer heat inconvenienced her greatly, so that sh e could hardly breathe; then loss of sleep, joined with the constant oppression on her chest, so af fected her voice that she could speak only with difficulty. The remedies used were of no avail, and she lost confidence in medicine. In Augu st she was persuaded to allow Dr. Tattoni to attend her. After a careful exam he declared the case hopeless. ination, Finally, she turned to heaven for her cure , and, with all the confidence and tenderness of a loving child, besought her Bl essed Mother to help her. Now, it happened that one day in October, having falle n asleep, she saw a beautiful lady with a child in her arms, and she was told to go and pray at the tomb of the young Passionist at the monastery , and use some of his relics that she might be cured. At the request of her uncle, Father Germanus, This is what he Passionist, went t o see her. When first I saw her I was seized with says She seemed to me like a corpse, the horror. : 43

SAINT GABRIEL being a slow and painful breathing. Propped up with pillows, she was lying motio nless, tormented with six large purulent ulcers, that gave her no rest by day or night. It was then three months since she had taken solid food, and I remember saying on that occasion that, if the Blessed Virgin cured her, it would be a mir acle like the resurrection of Lazarus/ This visit took place two days after the patient saw in her sleep the vision of a beautiful lady and child. Father German us did not believe the story of her vision. He said that we should not God, that the patient should not be put tempt to the discomfort of being taken to the chu rch, that the journey might hasten her death, and that if the Blessed Virgin wer e willing to ob tain for her a cure, she would do it without the journey at all. The girl herself informs Father Germanus came to see me on us: October 20th. He put about my neck a cruci fix belonging to Confrater Gabriel, the servant of Go d, and he put on me also the leathern The girdle that was taken out of his grave . Passionist Father greatly comforted me, ex horting me to have confidence in th e inter only sign of life cession of this holy religious. He told me to make a vow to go barefooted to the monas44

SAINT GABRIEL tery church in case the favor should be granted, assuring prayer, made that after three days of with my heart rather than with me my the would obtain my cure. Meanwhile malady did not abate, but I recommended lips, I I myself the best ber 23d. sick, could to Confrater Gabriel. to finish The triduum was and on Sunday, Octo I felt very, very people at home were more than usually downcast, for when they carried me to my room they had great trouble in un dressing me and getting me re ady for bed. So far poor Mary s account. We learn from other sources that her fa mily s anxiety was even greater that night than she imagined. Saturday evening my Her mother, who had no longer any hope of daughter s cure as the result of the triduum, and fearing, besides, that the gir dle might inconvenience her, was about to take it away, but Mary objected, sayin g that the whole night was still wanting to complete the three days. " her Towards Sunday I the (to

first dawn of the following s day, tive), resume Mary own narra told my sister to recite the Litany, and God. to join me in praying to the servant of While I was saying the litany there came upon me a quiet sleep, such as I had 45

SAINT GABRIEL not had for a long time. After a while I awoke was cured completely cured. My strength had returned, the sores were closed, and one of them, which was very large and about to open, disappeared full of joy, feeling that I altogether. sister, "Get Filled with delight, I cured! Gabriel has done this miracle for up! I am say to my Confrater me!" For well-nigh eight months I had been unable to wait upon myself; my people had to a ssist me in everything. Now, that morning I got up at once, dressed down to the kitchen. myself in haste, and went My sister would not believe her eyes; she kept by my side, afraid But I went lest it all might be a delusion. downstairs, and stood before my parents and the servant-maid, who were all in th e kitchen. My mother was astounded when she saw me, but I said to her: "Mamma, don t be afraid; Confrater Gabriel has performed the miracle for me;" and to reassure my poor mother all the more, I took t he baby from her arms into mine. it happened that the feast day of was celebrated on that Sunday, and there was i n the town an extraordinary con course of strangers. Mary s father, beside "Now, Isola

himself with emotion, ran out of the house 46

SAINT GABRIEL The neighbors crowded around, weeping. thinking that his daughter had just died; and, was Mary among them sound and were deeply moved, and wept for happy. That same m orning Mary went to the joy. lo! there All parish church with her parents, heard Mass, and received Communion. The next day she went to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Favors outside of the town; and on the following Tuesday that is, after her cure, together all barefoot like herself, October 25th two days with all her family, and accompanied by the whole population of Isola, she went to fulfil her vow at the tomb of God s s ervant. all the way, going and returning, a distance of about five miles, and has en joy ed perfect health ever since. This cure She walked has been attested by the sworn statements of Mary herself, her parents, Father C iaverelli, the two physicians, Dr. Tauri and Dr. Rossi, and several "One others." evening in June, 1893, there came from Acquasanta to the retreat of Isola a cripple named Anthony Mancini, who for years had lost the use of his limbs in consequenc e of an obstinate arthritis. As the many disease had crippled him 47 in a frightful man ner, the physicians

attempted to straighten

SAINT GABRIEL him by breaking the joints of his thighs and knees; but this only completed his ruin, and deprived him of all hope of ever be ing able to take another step. Besides, the poor man was wasting away through muscular atrophy, so that he could no longer move his b ody, and was forced to spend his days seated in an arm-chair, from which he had to be lifted into bed at night. "Seated (lest the him the off), thus, and even bound to his chair motion of the wagon should throw he arrived af ter a long journey, at All who saw him were touched with deep compassion, and as he was moved from the wagon, and carried Passionate Church. tomb of Gabriel, many joined with in prayer, asking his cure from God. During th e night he was given lodgings in to the him the abandoned retreat, and the next morning he was brought in his arm-chair into the church to Gabriel s sepulchre. After the par ish priest of Isola had heard his confession and given him Communion, the poor man continued his prayers to the servant of God. All at once, in the sight of all the people, An : thony arose from his chair cured, exclaiming Gabriel, the servant of God, has gr anted me the favor! Leaving his chair behind him in 48

SAINT GABRIEL the church, he got into his wagon unassisted, and joyfully turned his face homew ard, bless ing God. The people of the villages and towns through which he had passed on his way to Isola, and who had seen him in so pitiful a state, were now speechless w ith sur prise on beholding him hale and hearty, and every now and then he had to stop to satisfy their curiosity." extraordinary was the case of In conse Mariani, of Amatrice. quence of a stroke of apoplexy, he was para lyzed for twelve years in his whole body, so "Not less Cajetan that he could barely drag himself around with the help of a stick. He was sevent y-one years and entertained no hope of a cure; still he think of praying, for he had lived e stranged from God for a long time. One day, by some unaccountable impulse, he de As he entered the mon sired to go to Isola. church he saw a priest hearing con astery The fessions, and asked to be heard himself. were greatly astonished at t his, bystanders old, less did because they knew him well. Greater still was their wonder when they saw the old man making his confession with an abundance of tears. A few days afterwards, continues the priest to whom we are indebted for these 49

SAINT GABRIEL facts, as I returned to the church, the to man eyes came up moistened me quite joyfully, his "Oh, with tears, and said: Father, this dear servant of God obtained three great graces for me; he touched my heart and brought me back to God. I have pray ed and felt myself cured all at once of my paralysis, so that I am well and can walk about with ease, you see; besides, I was af flicted for many years with rup ture this, too, has disappeared this very hour. What shall I do to show my grati tude to God for so many ; blessings?" "Whatever the enticing advertisements in our daily papers and circulating p amphlets, medical science tells us that the radical cure of rupture (hernia) is seldom accomplished except by operative surgery, and not a single instance has e ver been recorded of instan taneous cure of hernia. Now, we read in the processe s that Gabriel has declared himself by facts to be the special friend of the rup tured, and in 1897 we find on the register about ninety cases of complete and in stantaneous cure." Gabriel things, and now of many graces was a faithful servant in a few God makes him the dispenser and blessings. The m iracles 50

SAINT GABRIEL recorded are but a few of the many wrought through his intercession. By visits to his tomb, by prayer to him, and by the us e of his relics, the sick have been cured, the blind have been made to see, the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear, and the crippled to walk. Not worked by God through His servant are kept on record, and still up to the presen t over four hundred have been one-half the miracles recorded. A large store-room, or treasurehouse, has been erected beside the church at Isol a to contain the votive offerings of those received favors from intercession. who have Gabriel to life s God through dying, restored recourse to him, have through having left there the coffins that had been prepared for them. Cripples have left there their chairs The and crutches. Hundreds of immense wax candles are stored there. High cases with glass doors line the walls, and are stocked with costly church vestments, and all kinds of gold and silver church pl ate and ornaments. Some have left their earrings there, watches, rings, and some their and chains. These are numbered by the thousand; each is an offer some their bracelets ing in thanksgiving for something Gabriel has done for the giver. And this wonde r-worker 51

SAINT GABRIEL was only twenty-four years old when he died He was less than six years in religi on! He is not yet fifty years in the grave! One of his ! brothers is still alive ways of God! We Oh, wonderful are the seem to hear Him saying: ! done, good and faithful servant, be cause thou hast been faithful over a few "Well things, I will place thee over many" (Matt. xxv. 21). gratification THE Church has carefully weighed the evi dence in favor of Gabriel s heroic virt ue, and minutely examined the miracles that testify She has now added her testimony to i t. In 1896 she bestowed upon that of others. to Gabriel the title of "Venerable." On the thirty-first of May, 1908, she went a step fur ther by publicly announcing his b eatification and giving him the title of "Blessed." The London Tablet in its accoun t of that impres "The last of the three sive ceremony said:

beatifications fixed for the Jubilee year of Pius X. was held today in St. Peter s. They have brought us very near the if saints. . . . Rarely, ever, in the history of beatifications did 52

SAINT GABRIEL heaven and earth seem brought so close to each other as this morn when the curta in fell and the figure of Blessed Gabriel of the Virgin of Sorrow shone out amid the radiance of innumerable lamps above the chair of St. Peter. He looks down upon those to whom he owed obedience, respect, and love on earth, whose hands he had clasped but a few years There was his elder brother, Dr. ago. Michael Possenti, still in the f lesh, still vigor ous and active in the medical profession at the age of seventy -three. As he looks now from the raised tribunal near the altar at the picture of his younger brother amid a band of angels, recollections of their boy hood in their old home mingle with the deep Catholic spirit of veneration and humble prayer, that unites the vast multitude gathered about the tomb of the Apostles to hear the wo rd of tercessor in the Christ s Vicar proclaiming a new hero and in Church of God. The doctor s daughter, a niece of Blessed Gabriel, is with him. An old school companion of Ga briel s now a prosperous tradesman in Rome. Needless to say, he was also present this mo rning. Another human touch to this won derful scene. Among the crowd of worship pers is the lady whom the parents of Gabriel, is 53

SAINT GABRIEL in their earthly plans for his welfare, destined him to marry. She is now the wi fe of an Italian colonel. There is also present a per son whose miraculous cure has serve d for the process of beatification. Above all, Father Norbert, is here. What a j oyous day is this for him, the Novice-Master, the teacher He is spiritual director of Gabriel! and now seventy-nine years old, and he comes to see his former penitent, who used to com e to him for absolution and advice, exalted to the honors It was Father Norbert who as of the altar. sisted Blessed Gabriel on his death bed, and witnessed every stage of that perfect closing of his life." Canonisation BEFORE those who are beatified can be can onized and called saints, it must be p roved that at least two more first-class miracles have been performed by their intercession This after the date of their beatifica tion. condition was soon fulfilled in the case of Blessed Gabriel. Almost daily we hear and read accounts of miracles wrought for those who appeal to him for in tercession with God. 54

SAINT GABRIEL two of these miracles had been proved and exacting to receive evidence and ex ju dges appointed amine witnesses, Pope Benedict XV. was pe to the satisfaction of the careful When canonize Blessed Gabriel. This in 1918 in union with the petition for the beatif ication of Venerable petition Oliver Plunket. On that occasion the Pope said: &q uot;The decree which approves the two miracles attributed to the intercession of Blessed Gabriel is a new stimulus from on high urging us to more effectually im itate the virtues of this dear son of Umbria, to whom, as a new Gonzaga, can be applied the words titioned to was made of Holy Scripture, being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. T he short space of time from the day of his beati fication to the two wonders attributed to this young Passionist is clear proof o f heavenly This will appear in a clearer light designs. to any one who considers that the p ublication of the decree in relation to Venerable Plunket, and the reading of the decree in regard to Blessed Gabriel teach one lesson, namely, that the perfection of a Christian dep ends upon the diligence and constancy with which he discharges the duties of his state. An d this rule of conduct sji.oujd not appear to any one

SAINT GABRIEL too vague because general, nor too simple be cause easy. Its true worth lies in the fact, all conditions in which a be placed, and no one can re ject it as being too diff icult for the ordinary man. These words of the highest authority on earth remind us that saints are raised up by God not merely to intercede with Him and obtain miracles for us, but especially to be models of virtue for our imitation. This truth is often forgotten by those who make no effort to walk in the footsteps of the saints that it embraces Christian * may and imitate their virtues, and who seem to think that a saint is of no use unless he works miracles for them. It was not th e virtues that appeal to the world, the virtues of a pub lic, popular life, that raised Ga briel to the heights of sanctity; but the virtues of the hidden, interior, spiritual life, th e virtues practiced by Christ in the humble home of Nazareth. These virtues a whole-hearted love for God, a fervent practice of religion, purity of intention, humility, obe dience, pov erty, chastity, self-denial, penance, prayer, and a constant remem brance of the Presence of God in union with Jesus and Mary

may be practised in every fraternal charity, state of life. They sanctify the servant 56 as,

SAINT GABRIEL They are more easily ac quired and practised by the poor than by the well as the master. rich. of writer, already quoted, commenting on the beatification of Saint Gabriel said: & quot;The Church has judged They make saints monks and priests. of laymen as well as A Blessed Gabriel by the same criterion she has applied in the case of those saint s whose works have earned renown and stirred the There is no space reserved in the Book of Life to record that the servant of God cast out devils in Christ s name, or b uilt churches, or founded institutions, or wrote re markable books, or initiated successful schemes for the betterment of the toilers and the poor. These things may or may not count, according to the spirit which pervaded them. It is the in terior life which matters. And it would be difficult for the Church to teach thi s in a more emphatic way than she has done by the solemn act of Beatification Th e man of science eliminates one today. world. element after another in the chemical com pound before him, until he has found t he es sence which he seeks in his analysis. So does the Church in her investigat ion of the life and work of a servant of God look for the presence of the pearl of great price 57 in-

SAINT GABRIEL terior holiness in the heroic degree. It would seem that in Blessed Gabriel of t he Virgin of Sorrows it lay bare and open to view unmixed with other elements." The canonization with that of St. of Saint Gabriel, in union Margaret Mary Alacoque, took place in St. Peter s at Rome on Ascension Thursday, May 13, 1920. The decrees were published by Benedict XV. in the presence of bishops, two hundred and eighty and a devout multitude of over thirty thousand worshipper s who gathered there to do honor to God and His saints. Brother Silvester, a Pas sionist, who had been in the Novitiate with Gabriel, w as there, and Dr. Michael Possenti, in his eighty-sixth year, was forty-five cardinals, r also there to see his saintly brother receive the highest honors that can be pai d to a man on earth. Conclusion No better conclusion can be put to the life of Gabriel than that of the correspondent to the Tablet just quoted. Little rema ins to be added. One of the religious, 58 standing beside

SAINT GABRIEL Gabriel in his dying moments and seeing his "So holy death, struck his brea st and said: many so years am I in the service of God and yet backward; while he in so short a time b e came a saint, and has had such a beautiful death." So many years many years years we have been in His service; and why are we so backward? Why ar e we not what Gabriel was? Because we do not correspond with God s grace; becaus e we do not make use of the daily opportunities given us to serve Him; because w e neglect, or carelessly per form, the work that He puts in our hands. "Liv es of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime." we have been on we have known God; earth; so so many The life of Gabriel reminds us we can make our lives sublime, and tells us how to do it. We shall en noble life and make it sublime, not by idly dream ing of mighty deeds that we shall never be asked to do, not by vainly longing fo r oppor tunities that may never be given us, but by making the to best use of present opportunities do good, by faithfully performing the ordi nary daily duties of our station in l ife, what ever it may be, by doing with all our might whatever the hands find to do, by taking up 59

SAINT GABRIEL our daily cross and following Christ, and by doing all for the love of God. Whoe ver does this will apply to himself the lesson of s life, will sanctify his soul, will make his life sublime, will store up great merit in Gabriel heaven, and will surely hear from God the words of praise and reward: "Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few thi ngs, I will place thee over many Lord" joy of thy things; enter thou into the (Matt. xxv. 21).

BX 4700 .62 L84 1920 SMC Lummer, Reginald. Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows Pass oni st , i 47230567